Scoop Neck Blouse Pattern #S-727

Sizes 12, 14, 16 and 18 Directions are given for Size 12. Changes for Sizes 14, 16 and 18 are in parentheses.

J. & P. COATS "KNIT-CRO-SHEEN" METALLIC, Art. A.64: 11 (11-12-12) balls of No.M.46-A Mid Rose. Milwards Steel Crochet Hook No. 2;

OR CHADWICK'S RED HEART "FASHION-GLO," 3 Ply, Art. E.265M (1 oz. "Tangle-Proof" Pull-Out Skeins): 8 (8-9-9) skeins of No. M.737 Pink. Clark's O.N.T. Plastic Crochet Hook No. 1.

2½ yards of ribbon, 1 inch wide... 6 small buttons.

GAUGE: 32 group sts make 1 inch; 33 rows make 1 inch. BLOCKING MEASUREMENTS: SIZES 12 14 16 18 Bust 32" 34" 36" 38" Width across back at underarm 16" 17" 18" 19" Length from shoulder to lower edge 18½" 19" 19" 20"

BACK ... Starting at lower edge, make a chain 30 inches long.

1st row: Insert hook in 3rd ch from hook and draw loop through, * skip 1 ch, insert hook in next loop and draw loop through, (thread over and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice (group st made); ch 1, insert hook where last loop was drawn through and draw loop through. Repeat from * across until there are on row 52 (55-59-62) group sts. Cut off remaining chain. Ch 3, turn. Hereafter, pick up back loops only.

2nd and 3rd rows: Insert hook in 3rd ch from hook, draw loop through, * skip next group st, insert hook in next ch and draw loop through, (thread over and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice; ch 1, insert hook where last loop was drawn through and draw loop through. Repeat from * across, ending with last loop of last group st in top of turning chain. Ch 3, turn.

4th and 5th rows: Skip first group st, (insert hook in next ch and draw loop through) twice; ch 1 and complete row in pattern as before (1 group st decreased at beginning of each row). Ch 3, turn.

Work 4 more rows in pattern without decreasing.

Repeat 4th and 5th rows once more. There are on row 48 (51-55-58) group sts.

Work without decreasing until piece measures 6½ (7-7-7) inches.

Now inc 1 group st at both ends of next row and every 4th row thereafter until there are on row 56 (59-63-66) group sts—to inc 1 group st, draw up a loop in same ch as first group st and in back loop of same group st, (thread over and draw through 2 loops) twice; then draw up a loop in same group st and in next ch, (thread over and draw through 2 loops) twice.

Work without increasing until piece measures in all 11½ (12-12-12) inches.

To Shape Armholes: 1st row: (Sl st in next group st and next ch) twice; ch 3 and work in pattern across to within last 2 group sts. Ch 3, turn—52 (55-59-62) group sts on row.

2nd row: Work in pattern across.

3rd and 4th rows: Dec 1 group st at beginning of each row and work in pattern across. Ch 3, turn—50 (53-57-60) group sts on row.

Now work without decreasing until piece measures 3 inches from first row of armhole shaping.

Now inc 1 group st at both ends of next row.

Continue to work in pattern without increasing for 5 more rows. There are 52 (55-59-62) group sts on row.

To Shape Neck: 1st row: Inc 1 group st and work in pattern across next 25 (27-29-30) group sts, ch 1, sc in next group st and in next ch. Ch 1, turn.

Now work over this set of sts only as follows: 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th rows incl: Skip first sc, sl st in next sc, (sc in next ch and in next group st) 4 times; ch 1, work in pattern across. Ch 3, turn.

3rd and 5th rows: Inc 1 group st and work across to within last group st, ch 1, sc in next group st and in next ch. Ch 1, turn.

7th and 9th rows: Work as for 3rd row without increasing, shaping neck edge as before.

10th row: Skip first sc, sl st in next sc, (sc in next ch and next group st) once (2-4-4) times. For Sizes 16 and 18 only, work 2 rows more without decreasing. Break off.

Attach thread to opposite side of neck edge and work other side to correspond, reversing shapings.

LEFT FRONT ... Starting at lower edge, make a chain 20 inches long.

1st row: Work in group st pattern across until there are on row 30 (32-34-36) group sts. Cut off remaining chain. Ch 3, turn.

2nd and 3rd rows: Work in pattern across. At end of 3rd row work is at side edge.

4th row: Dec 1 group st at beginning of row and work in pattern across.

Now continue to work in pattern, shaping at side edge the same as for Back, until piece measures 3 inches from first row of armhole shaping, ending at side edge. There are on row 29 (31-33-35) group sts.

To Shape Neck: 1st row: Inc 1 group st at beginning of row and work in pattern across to within last group st, ch 1, sc in next group st and in next ch. Ch 1, turn.

2nd row: Work as for 2nd row of Back.

3rd row: Work as for first row, but do not increase.

4th row: Skip first sc, sl st in next sc, (sc in next ch and next group st) twice; ch 1 and work in pattern across. Ch 3, turn.

Work 3rd and 4th rows alternately until Front measures same as Back, shaping side edge as for Back. Break off.

RIGHT FRONT ... Work as for Left Front, reversing shapings.

Sew side and shoulder seams.

NECK AND FRONT BANDS .... 1st row: With wrong side facing, starting at lower left side, sc closely across both front edges and neck edge, making 3 sc in same sp at each corner of front edges. Ch 1, turn.

2nd row: Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.

3rd row: Sc in each sc across, making 3 sc in center sc at corners. Ch 1, turn.

With pins mark position of 6 buttons on Left Front Band, having the first pin mark ½ inch up from lower edge and the last pin mark ½ inch down from neck edge.

4th row: Sc in each sc across, making a buttonhole on Right Front Band opposite each pin mark and working 2 sc off as 1 sc at shoulder seams—to make a buttonhole, ch 2, skip 2 sc, sc in next sc.

5th row: Sc in each sc and in each ch across, working 2 sc off as 1 sc at shoulder seams.

6th row: Sc in each sc around entire garment, including lower edges. Break off.

Make 1 row of sc around armholes. Ch 1, turn. Sl st in each sc around. Break off.

Block to measurements. Sew ribbon to outside of Front and Neck Bands, cutting buttonholes in ribbon to match buttonholes in garment.

Work buttonhole st around buttonholes. Sew on buttons to correspond with buttonholes.

Cut two 9-inch pieces of ribbon. Fold each piece in half to form a band and sew in place for pockets.

This free pattern originally published in Coats & Clark's O.N.T. #313, Cottons You'll Love